Plug retainer



Sept. 14, 1937. H. BRUGGER 2,092,904

PLUGRETAINER Filed July 24, 1935 [Ni EN TOR HERMAN BR (/6651? A 7'7'ORNEY.

Patented Sept. 14, 1937 VUNITED'ISTATES PATENT OFFICE PLUG RETAINER Herman Bruggcr, Welt Loo Angelcs, Calif.

Application July 24,

9 Claims.

such force or strength that the plug cannot be readily removed from such position of operation.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character which will grip plugs having-bodies of different size. Electrical appliances generally come equipped with cords and plugs. These plugs, although having contacts of standard size and spacing so as to fit a standard size receptacle have bodies which vary in size and design in accordance with the personal likings of the designers. My invention has means for holding plug bodies of the various types found on the marketand is effective so long as the sizes of the bodies are kept within reasonable limits.

It is an object of the invention to provide a retaining device having jaws for gripping or holding engagement with the surface of the plug body, and manually operable means for forcing these jaws into engagement with the plug body. The plugs used in standard housing wiring systems are intended to be held in place by the frictional engagement of the prongs or contacts of the plug with the contacts of the receptacle. Ordinarily, the engagement of these members becomes loose in a relatively short period of time so that often the weight of the electrical cord, or a relatively slight movement thereof, will remove the plug from the receptacle. In my device frictional engagement of the plug contacts with the receptacle contacts is not depended upon for holding the plug in position, nor are the contacts depended upon for this purpose. The gripping means employed in my device engage the body of the plug, or, in other words, that part of the plug from which the contacts project.

It is an object of the invention to provide a retaining device of the above character which may be secured to the face plate of a standard type of receptacle such as now commonly used and preferably without the need of screws other 1935, 8611.1 N0. 32,897 (Cl. 247-23) than those furnished tacle.

with the plate of the recep- It is a further object of the invention to provide a device having few parts of simple form and having a cam of in an annular casin holding the gripping ring shape operating with- 8 equipped with means for jaws in operative position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made lowing part of the evident throughout the folspecification.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only,

.Flg. 1 is a partly electrical receptacle sectioned face view of an equipped with a preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on a plane indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross section taken as indicated by the line Fig. 4 is a face view of ployed in the device Fig. 5 is a cross se the line 55 of Fig.

34 of Fig. l.

discl ctio Fig. 6 is a. sectional view similar to Fig. 2,

showing the jaws th a plug body.

ereof in a position to grip In Figs. 1 and 2 I show a connector receptacle of the type ordinarily employed in -volt electrical systems, such receptacle having slots H in the front thereof through which the pronglike contacts of a con nector plug project into engagement with contacts, not shown, disposed within the body of th ceptacle I0 ordinarily has a face plate pair of screws i3 are curing the face plate e receptacle [0. Such re- I2, and a ordinarily provided for sel2 and the receptacle H) to the front of an outlet box forming part of an electrical distribution system.

My invention employs a supporting member ll which is preferably stamped from relatively thin sheet metal and has a front annular wall I5 which lies in parallel relation to the front face of the face plate l2.

This annular wall has an opening I6 therein larger than and concentric with the receptacle I sequently a little larg base of the largest 0. The opening I 6 is coner than the diameter of the standard plug. Extending inwardly or rearwardly from the peripheral edge a flange or side wall I 8, the ch is adapted to rest against face plate l2. A pair of lugs dially from the supporting position that the securing e plate i2 maybe passed the screws I 3 will serve the the cam member emb --hinge pins 24 adapted double function of holding the retaining device on the face plate l2 and also holding the face plate on the front of the outlet box. Extending inwardly from the inner edge l9 of the side wall or flange l8, in diametrally-opposed relation, are afiair of lugs or tongues 22 having spaced loops or tubes 23 at the inner edges thereof for holding to support jaw members 25 so that they will swing from the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2 to the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 6. Each of the jaw members 25 has a radially extending plate portion 26 and an end portion 21 bent so as to lie at substantially right angles to the radial portion 26, there being teeth 28 formed on the edge of each portion 21 for engagement with the body 29 of a connector plug 30 such as shown in Fig. 6. Over each of the jaw members 25 the front annular wall I of the container is pressed outwardly to form an enlargement or canopy 32 giving space into which the jaw members 25 may swing in retracted position as shown in Fig. 2. The walls l5 and I8 of the supporting member l4 define an o i seam annular space 33 adjacent the front face of the face plate l2, and in this annular space 33 a ring 34 is disposed which has an operating handle 35 projecting radially outwardly through a slot 36 in the cylindrical wall l8 so as to provide a limited rotation of the ring 34 around the axis A-A of the receptacle Ill. This ring 34 has cams 31 formed in diametrally opposed relation for engaging and swinging the jaw members 25 inwardly from retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2, to extended or gripping position, as shown in Fig. 6. Each cam 31 has a cam face 38 which progresses spirally inwardly toward the center of rotation but at the same time twists on an axis parallel to the front face of the plate l2 so that each cam face 38 will follow the change in position of the radial wall 26 of a jaw member 25 as the jaw member is swung inwardly from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 to its position of Fig. 6. Accordingly, the low or large diametered portion 40 of each cam face 38 slopes upwardly and outwardly as indicated in'Fig. 2.

At this time the jaw member 25 rests against the portion 40 position. 4| of the cam face 38 slopes upwardly and inwardly so that as the ring 34 is rotated in clockwise direction to bring the high part 4| of the cam face 38 into engagement with the jaw member 25, such jaw member 25 will be rotated into an inwardly sloping position as shown in Fig. 6. Between the outwardly sloping face portion 38 and the inwardly sloping face portion 4|, each cam has an intermediate face portion 42 parallel to the axis A-A. It will be perceived that the twist of the cam face 38 corresponds to or follows the change in position of the radial wall 26 of eachjaw member 25 as the jaw members 25 are swung inwardly by the action of thecams 31. A simple spring member .44 yieldably urges the jaw members 25 outwardly toward their retracted positions.

When thehandle it is shown of the cam face in outwardly sloping 35 is in the position in which in Figs. land 4, the low portions 40 faces38 will be in engagement with theportions 26. of the jaw members 25 so that thespring 44 may hold the jaw members in retracted position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At this time a connector plug, such as the plug 30 shown in Fig. 6, may be caused to engage the receptacle l0; that is, the prongs of the plug may be passed into the openings ii, and the body of The high or small diametered portion adapted to receive a plug,

the plug may be brought to rest against the exposed face of the receptacle Ill. The body 29 of the plug will then lie within the opening l6 of the supporting member l4, and the jaw members 25 may be swung inwardly by rotating the handle 35 and the ring 34 in clockwise direction, thereby causing the jaw members 25 to engage the body 29 of the plug 30 as shown in Fig. 6.

Connector plugs are ordinarily made from composition insulating material, for example, hard rubber compounds, resilient rubber compounds, bakelite, and moldable compounds of fibrous material and suitable binders and fillers. The jaw members 25 may have the teeth 28 thereof of such hardness that they will readily grip materials of this character so as to hold the plugs in place against relatively heavy forces tending to remove the same. It may not be advisable, however, to grip a connector plug with such tightness that the wire would be broken before the plug could be pulled from place.

Although I have herein shown my invention in simple and practicalform, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be'limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with an electrical receptacle adapted to receive a plug, a holding means of the character described, comprising: jaw means disposed in spaced relation to the front of said receptacle and being adapted to engage the body of a plug so as to hold the same in engagement with saidreceptacle; and a ring-like cam member adapted to be rotated so as to move said jaw means to and from engagement with said body of said plug.

2. In combination with an electrical receptacle adapted to receive a plug, a holding means of the character described, comprising: jaw means disposed in spaced relation to the front of said receptacle and being adapted to engage the body of a plug so as to hold the same in engagement with said receptacle; ber adapted for rotation to move said jaw means into engagement 'th said body of said plug.

3. In combination with an electrical receptacle adapted to receive a plug, a holding means of the character described, comprising: a pair of jaw members adapted to move radially inwardly into engagement with the body of a plug so as to hold the same in engagement with said receptacle; and aring-like cam disposed around the axis of said plug and adapted to be rotated about said axis, said cam having faces engaging said jaw members and forcing them inwardly into holding engagement with said body as said cam is rotated.

4. In combination with an electricalreceptacle a holding means of the character described, comprising: a pair of jaw members adapted to move radially inwardly into engagement with the body of a plug so as to hold the same in engagement with said receptacle; and a ring-like member disposed around the axis of said plug and being rotatable around said axis, there being means operative through rotation of said ring-like member to move said jaw members into clamping engagement with said body of said plug.

5. In combination with an electrical receptacle adapted to receive a plug, a holding means of the character described, comprising: a supporting member adapted to be secured to the face plate of said receptacle; jaw members movably mounted on said supporting member so as to be moved into engagement with the body of a plug engaging said receptacle; and ring-like means carried by said supporting member and adapted for rotation around the axis of said plug so as to move said jaw members into holding engagement with said body of said plug.

6. In combination with an electrical receptacle adapted to receive a plug, a holding means of the character described, comprising: a supporting member adapted to be secured to the face plate of said receptacle; jaw members movably mounted on said supporting member so as to be moved into engagement with the body of a plug engaging said receptacle aring carried by said supporting member in a position around the axis of said body; a handle projecting from said ring whereby it may be given rotary movement; and cams formed on said ring in positions to force said Jaw members into engagement with said body as the ring is rotated.

"I. In combination with an electrical receptacle adapted to receive a plug, a holding means of the character described, comprising: a supporting member adapted to be secured to the face plate of said receptacle; Jaw members movably mounted on said supporting member so as to swing on axes substantially parallel to the front surface of said face plate into engagement with the body of a plug engaging said receptacle; a ring carried by said supporting member in a position around the axis of said body; a handle projecting from said ring whereby it may be given rotary movement; and cams formed on said ring in positions to 40 force said jaw members into engagement with said body as the ring is rotated.

8. In combination with an electrical receptacle adapted to receive a plug, a holding means of the character described. comprising: a supporting member adapted to be secured to the face plate of said receptacle; Jaw members movably mounted on said supporting member so as to swing on axes substantially parallel to the front surface of said face plate into engagement with the body of a plug engaging said receptacle; a ring carried by said supporting member in a position around the axis of said body; a handle projecting from said ring whereby it may be given rotary movement; cams formed on said ring in positions to force said jaw members into engagement with said body as the ring'is rotated; and spring means engaging said jaw members so as to urge them away from saidbody.

9. In combination with an electrical receptacle adapted to receive a plug, a holding means of the character described, comprising: a supporting member adapted to be secured to the face plate of said receptacle, said supporting member comprising an annular wall of thin metal having a central opening of such size that the body of a plug may pass therethrough as said plug is moved into position to engage said receptacle, and said supporting member also including an annular flange around the outer edge of said annular wall, said annular wall and said flange forming an annular space adjacent the surface of said face plate; jaw members disposed on axes substantially parallel to said surface of said face plate so as to swing into engagement with said body of said plug to grip the same; a ring disposed in said annular space formed by said supporting member so as to have a limited rotation around the axis of said opening; a handle projecting in radial direction from said ring whereby the same may be rotated; and cams formed on the inner portion of said ring so as to engage said Jaw members and swing the same inwardly, there being, yieldable means tending to swing said jaw members outwardly.

HERMAN BRUGGER. 

